USPTO to Hold Hearing on Digital Copyright Protection Systems

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property James E. Rogan will make opening remarks at a hearing to solicit the views of a diverse group of technology companies, copyright-based industries and educational institutions for a report to Congress that the agency is preparing on technological protection systems for digitized copyrighted works.

The "Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2002," which was signed into law November 2002, updates the Copyright Act in order to facilitate the development of distance education. Congress is seeking information on technological protection systems that have been implemented, are available for implementation, or are proposed to protect digitized copyrighted works and prevent infringement.